Wrap-around folding boxes



July 19, 1955 M. l. WILLIAMSON WRAP-AROUND FOLDING BoxEs Filed Dec. 14, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. MARSHALL f. W/L/AMso/v M- ATTORNEY July 19, 1955 Filed Dec. 14, 1950 M. l. WILLIAMSON WRAP-AROUND FOLDING BOXES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. MARS/MAL l. W/u/AMso/r July 19, 1955 M. l. WILLIAMSON WRAP-AROUND FOLDING BoxEs 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 14, 1950 Fig. 8

INVEN TOR. MARSHALL W/L/AMso/v LJ, ATTORNEY United States Patent() WRAP-AROUND FoLDING BOXES Marshall I. Williamson, New Haven, Conn., assigner, by mesne assignments, to National Folding Box Company, Incorporated, New Haven, Conn., a corporation of New York Application December 14, 1950, Serial No. 206,746

4 Claims. (Cl. 229-40) This invention relates to improvements in folding boxes made from foldable sheet material, such as paperboard, box board, or other foldable sheet stock.

The invention is directed to the type of folding boxes which serve not only as protection for the box contents in shipping, handling, storing and selling, but whose secondary and equally important purpose is to provide a visual display of the packaged merchandise.

The invention is more particularly directed to folding boxes of the wrap-around type. Such folding boxes consist basically of a plurality of enclosing wall panels which are articulated to one another in end-to-end relationship and enclose the box contents entirely, with the exception of two sides which, for convenient identification, may be compared to the front and back walls of a conventional folding box.

Flange panels are articulated to the side edges of the enclosing wall panels and are connected to one another along gusset folds which generally lie at the box corner fold lines at which two enclosing wall panels meet.

Certain of these flange panels extend at predetermined angles from the respective wall panels to which they are articulated, the angle being determined by the type of merchandise packaged, and the particular manner in which the merchandise is grasped in the box. In most instances the angle between the aforementioned certain flange panels and their respective wall panels ranges downwardly from 90 degrees. However, in specific instances, the angle may be greater than 90 degrees. The angular position of these flange panels is determined by the shape of the, generally triangular, gusset panels which connect the upstanding flange panels with other flange panels which are folded-back upon the wall panels to which they are articulated and form multiple thickness side walls with the last mentioned wall panels.

Wrap-around folding boxes are set up from blanks which after the initial cutting and scoring operation go through a further folding operation, or a folding and gluing operation, as the case may be. Conveniently, box blanks are delivered by the box manufacturer to the box user, the merchandise manufacturer, packer, or distributor, in the form of prefolded, or prefolded and preglued, blanks. These blanks are flat and require only a minimum of space in shipping and storing, but are of multiple thickness, at least in parts. Boxes may be set up from these prepared blanks by a simple folding operation involving wrapping the blank around the merchandise. This folding operation not only causes the enclosing wall panels of the box to enclose the merchandise, but also causes the flange panels to assume their final position. As hereinbefore mentioned, certain flange panels assume an angular or upright position with respect to the wall panels to which they are articulated, and other flange panels remain folded back upon the respective Wall panels from which they extend, in other words they retain the position which they assumed in the prefolded blank.

The erection of the aforementioned certain flange panels causes gusset folds to form at box corners. This occurs automatically and as a direct result of the creasing or folding of the box blanks at the box corner fold lines as the blank is being wrapped around the box contents.

Wrap-around boxes are admirably suited for the packaging of contents of rather unorthodox shapes, and it is desirable to prepare the box blank in such a way that the erection of the flange panels and the formation of the gusset folds occurs as a definite and positive result of the folding of the box blank at the box corner fold lines. In other words, it is desirable that the folding of the box blank causes certain predetermined flange panels to assume an erect position, whereas other flange panels are to remain undisturbed.

The present invention provides positive means of controlling the erection of the box panels in such a way that it becomes unnecessary to handle flange panels during the setting up of the box for the purpose of moving them to, or retaining them in, the position which they are to assume in the finished box.

The various objects, features and advantages of this invention will appear more fully from the detailed description which follows, accompanied by drawings, showing, for the purpose of illustration, a specific application of the invention. The invention also consists in certain new and original features of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Although the characteristic features of this invention which are believed to be novel will be particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself, its objects and advantages, and the manner in which it may be carried out may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of it in which:

Figure l is a plan view of the flat blank from which a box embodying the present invention may be made;

Figure 2 is a plan view of a modied form of blank;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the blank of Figure 2 after an initial folding and gluing operation prior to shaping into box form;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the prefolded box blank of Figure 3 in the process of shaping into box form;

Figure 5 is a perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of the prefoldetl blank of Figure 3 in flat condition;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the blank portion shown in Figure 5 in the process of erection;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the finished box containing a bottle; and

Figure 8 is a sectional view of the bottom portion of the box shown in Figure 7, the section being taken in plane 8 3-8 in Figure 7.

In the following description and in the claims various details will be identified by specific names for convenience. The names, however, are intended to be as generic in their application as the art will permit. Corresponding reference characters refer to correspondingparts in the several figures of the drawings.

In the drawings accompanying, and forming part of this specification, certain specific disclosure of the invention is made for the purpose of explanation of broader aspects of the invention, but it is understood that the details may be modified in various respects without departure from the principles of the invention, and that the invention may be applied to other structuresthan the ones shown.

The blank A shown in Figure l may be cut and scored, in multiple, from rolls or sheets of paperboard, cardboard, or other flexible sheet material. Only one side of the board need be imprinted or otherwise decoratively nished, since only one side of the blank is exposed to view in the finished box. The blank comprises a series of enclosing wall panels ll, l2, 113 and i4 substantially of equal width. The wall panels are articulated to one another in end-to-end relationship along box corner fold lines l5, i6 and l7. A tuck panel l@ is articulated to the wall panel 14 along a box corner fold line 19.

Flange panels 2G, 2l, 22, 23, 24. and 2S, 26, 27, 28 and 29 are articulated to opposite edges of the wall panels along parallel score lines 36 and 3l.. The llange panels are articulated to one another in end-to-end relationship along gusset folds 32, 33, 3d, 35 and 36, 37, 35S and 3?. Each gusset fold comprises two crease lines running from the end of a corner fold line across the flange panel stock. r[hose crease lines are numbered di?, 4l; 42, 43; 4d, 45; do, L57; d8, 49; 5h, 5l; 52, 53; and 54, 55. For reasons which hereinafter will become apparent the crease lines of the gusset folds are preferably so laid out, that they form an angle with respect to thc respective corner fold lines ruiming towards them, as

is also clearly apparent from the drawing.

Certain of the score lines bordering the gusset folds include portions of increased weakness, preferably produced by cuts extending entirely through the stock. Thus the score lines d?, 43, 4d, 37, 4S, 51, 52 and 55 include cuts 72, 73, 74., 75, 76, 77, '73 and 79.

The wall panels may be provided with apertures through which portions of the box contents may protrude, one such aperture being shown in the panel l2 at Se.

A shallow U-cut 64 forms a tongue 65 on the wall panel ld adjacent the corner fold line 19. The tuck tab 65 is cut from the stock of the wall panel ll and is articulated thereto along a fold line 67. The tab 65 has a further crease 63 and extends beyond the end of the wall panel ll at 69.

The ends of the ilange panels are preferably cut at an angle as shown at 57 and 5S to fit corner folds in the finished box, as will later appear.

Glue laps S9, 60 and 6l extend from the flange panels 2li, 22 and 24 respectively to overlap with the flange panels 25, 27 and 29.

The blank A in Figure 2 corresponds to the blank A of Figure l in all particulars except for the absence of the glue laps 59, e@ and 6l.

The blanks A and A may be formed into box shape substantially as follows:

Adhesive a is first applied to the glue laps 59, dit and 6l of the blank A or to marginal areas of the flange panels 2i), 22 and 2d of the blank A. The blank is then folded along the side fold lines 3u and 3l to fold the flange panels over the respective wall panels to which they are articulated, thereby adhering the flange panels 26 and 25; 22 and 26; and 24 and 29 together. ln the case of the blank A the flange panels are adhered to panels lll, 13 and lS, respectively. rlhis is conveniently done by passing the blank through a gluing and folding machine, preferably in the direction indicated by the arrow 62 with the tuck panel l leading and the wall panel 1l trailing.

The folding operation produces a prefolded tubular or double walled blank A, illustrated in Figure 3.

The prefolded and preglued blank A shown in Figure 3 and may be shipped and stored in flat collapsed condition requiring only a minimum of space. The blank is ready for assembly with, or folding about, box contents which in the illustrated example is a bottle 70, but obviously could be any other piece or pieces of merchandise occupying substantially the same space as the bottle 7G.

The assembly of the prefolded box blank about the bottle is most easily accomplished by lirst folding the blank at the corner fold lines l5 and lo whereby the flange panels 2l and 26 are automatically erected with respect to the top wall panel l2. The bottle may then be inserted, cap 7l rst, through the aperture 56 causing the flange panels 2l and 26 to overlie the sides of 4 the bottle. The folding of the box blank along the corncr fold lines 15 and 16 causes the gussets at the corner to form by reason of the fact that the flange panels 2i), 25 and 22, 27 are adhered together and form a tubular structure with the wall panels lll and 13. Thus double thickness side walls are formed at 11 and 13. The bottom flange panels 23 and 2S are erected by folding of the blank at the corner fold lines 17 and 19. This folding operation is preferably performed with the box contents, the bottle '70, in place so that, in effect the blank A is wrapped around the contents.

The erection of the flange panels and the formation of the gusset folds at the corners is illustrated on an enlarged scale in Figures 5 and 6.

Figure 5 shows a portion of the prefolded box blank of Figure 3 in perspective view, and illustrates more particularly how the cuts 72, 73, 76 and 77 actually separate the stock slightly, producing narrow slits in the board.

When the blank is folded by folding the wall panels ll and i3 with respect to the wall panels l2 at the fold lines l5 and 16, as illustrated in Figure 6, a compressive force is exerted on the flange panels 2l and 26. This compressive force first tends to close the gaps or slits 72, 73, '76 and 77 originally formed by the passage of cutting knives through the stock. The portions of thc flange panels 2l and 26 immediately adjacent the side folds lines 3th and 31 are thus practically relieved from compressive force, at least in the initial stages of the folding operation during which the cuts 72, 73, 76 and 77 close up as shown in Figure 6. The compressive force is directed to, and concentrated at, the portion of the flange panels 2l and 26 adjacent the outer edges causing crease welts to form at the portions of the fold line where a scoring rule acted on the board. These welts are shown at d, 43', 48 and Sli. The welts transmit the compressive force to the triangular gusset panels 3Q, 33, 36 and 37 causing the gusset panels and the flange panels 2l and 26 to rise up from the wall panel l2 and move towards their nal position shown in .Figure 4.

The upright flange panels positively retain the box contents in the erected box and, in addition, form a decorative border or frame about the contents. Since the crease lines bordering the gusset folds are not in line, but extend at an angle with respect to, the corner fold lines towards which they run, the upright panels have a certain inward bias thereby grasping the bottle 7? snugly instead of bellying outwardly as they would, if the crease lines were not arranged at an angle.

The flange panels 24 and 29 overlie the tuck panel 'lll and form a double thickness tuck flap therewith. This tuck flap is insertable into the space between the endmost wall panel lll and its flange panels 20 and 2L'. The tuck flap 1S, 24, 29 has a snug telescoping fit with the end of the double thick box wall ll, 2li and 25. This telesccping fit serves a double function of first frictionally and securely connecting the ends of the box blank together to complete the box assembly as shown in Figures 7 and 8. Secondly, the telescoping t imparts a considerable amount of rigidity and resistance to twisting to the completed box A". This feature is of particular importance in instances where a plurality of units or pieces of merchandise are packaged in a single box.

The tuck closure is illustrated in section in Figure 8. The tuck flap 16, Z4 lies between the panels ll and 2t) s and the tuck tab 66, 6% provides a safety latch, so to speak, for the telcscoping closure, the extension 69 being inserted through the aperture formed by the U--shaped cut 64.

The invention thus provides a novel and highly adaptable type of package which may be constructed from a surprisingly small amount of board, is highly versatile and serves not only as a protective enclosure, but also as a decorative display box. The illustrated example shows a specific use of the novel and improved box, but it is apparent that the shapes, sizes and types of merchandise which may be packaged in the novel box are numerous and that the basic structure hereinbcfore described may be adapted to other forms of merchandise by simple changes. .For this reason various modifications, additions, omissions, substitutions and other changes may be made without departing from the spirit or essence of this invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A wrap-around type folding box for the visual packaging of contents, the box comprising a series of enclosing wall panels of substantially equal width articulated to one another in end-to-endwrelationship along box corner fold lines and extending about said box contents; flange panels articulated to opposite edges of said wall panels along side fold lines, said llange panels beingr articulated to one another in end-to-end relationship along gusset folds, certain flange panels extending at an angle with respect to the wall panels to which they are articulated and forming contents overlying flanges, other panels being folded back upon the wall panels from which they extend and adhesively secured to form box walls having two-ply thickness at least in part, the gusset fold between said certain flange panel and said other flange panel including two scores running across the flange panel stock and airned at a common point which also lies on the respective corner fold line, both said scores forming an angle with respect to said last named corner fold line, considering the scores and the corner fold line in the ilat blank, one of said scores bordering said other flange panel, the other score of the gusset bordering said certain flange panel, said one score having a weakened portion and an unweakened portion, the weakened portieri lying adjacent said side fold line, said two portions offering different resistance to folding of the stock and aiding in automatically erecting said certain flange panels when the box is erected by folding at its corner fold lines from a condition in which all flange panels lie liat upon the respective wall panels.

2. A wrap-around type folding box for the visual packaging of contents, the box comprising a series of enclosing wall panels of substantially equal width articulated to one another in end-to-end relationship along box corner fold lines and extending about said box contents; ange panels articulated to opposite edges of said wall panels along side fold lines, said flange panels being articulated to one another in 'end-to-end relationship along gusset folds, certain llange panels extending at an angle with respect to the wml panels to which they are articulated and forming contents overlying franges; other flange panels being folded back upon the wall panels from which they extend and overlapping in foldedback position, said last named panels being adhesively secured togetherl along overlapping portions to forma tubular wall structure with the respective wall panel from which they extend, the gusset fold between said certain liange panel and said other flange panel including two scores running across the flange panel stock and aimed at a common point which also lies on the respective corner fold line, both said scores forming an angle with respect to said last named corner fold line, one of said scores bordering said other flange panel, the other score of the gusset bordering said certain flange panel, said one score having a weakened portion and an unweakened portion, the weakened portion lying adjacent said side fold line, said two portions offering different resistance to folding of the stock and aiding in automatically erecting said certain flange panels when the box blank is erected by folding at its corner fold lines from a condition in which all ange panels lie ilat upon the respective wall panels.

3. A box blank of foldable sheet material for a wrap* around type folding box, the blank comprising a series of enclosing wall panels of substantially equal width articulated to one another in end-to-end relationship along box corner fold lines; flange panels articulated to opposite edges of the wall panels along side fold lines and folded back upon the respective wall panels, certain of said flange panels being adhesively secured in foldedback position, said flange panels being articulated to one another in end-to-end relationship along gusset folds at said corner fold lines, each of said gusset folds including two scores running across the flange panel stock, said two scores being aimed at a common point which also lies on the respective corner fold line, both said scores being at an angle with regard to said last named corner fold line, said two scores confining a substantially triangular panel portion between theni, at least one of the two scores in certain gusset folds having a weakened portion and an unweakened portion, the weakened portion lying adjacent the respective side fold line, the score including said weakened portion bordering an adhesively secured flange panel.

4. A box blank of foldable sheet material for a wraparound type folding box, the blank comprising a series of enclosing wall panels of substantially equal width articulated to one another in end-mend relationship along box corner fold lines; iiange panels articulate to opposite edges of the wall panels along side fold lines and folded back upon the respective wall panels, certain of said flange panels overlapping in folded-back position and being adhesively secured along overlapping portions to form a tubular wall structure with the respective wall panel from which they extend, said flange panels being articulated to one another in end-to-end relationship along gusset folds at said corner fold lines, each of said gusset folds including two scores running across the flange panel stock, said two scores being aimed at a common point which also lies on the respective corner fold line, both said scores being at an angle with regard to said last named corner fold line, said two scores confining a substantially triangular panel portion between them, at least on of the two scores in certain gusset folds having a weakened portion and an unweakened portion, the weakened portion lying adjacent the respective side fold line, the score including said weakened portion bordering an adhesively secured flange panel.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 574,894 Ferry Jan. 12, 1897 1,699,008 Miller Ian. 15, 1929 1,833,419 Grossen Nov. 24, 1931 1,833,492 Miller Nov. 24, 1931 1,971,197 Ottinger Aug. 21, 1934 2,033,526 Kinkenon Mar. 10, 1936 2,237,126 Weinman Apr. l, 1941 2,395,558 Lighter Feb. 26, 1946 2,548,985 Lighter Apr. 17, 1951 2,611,527 Fisher Sept. 23, 1952 

